Calla lily plant named ‘Diva Bianca’

ABSTRACT

‘Diva Bianca’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having white colored spathes and a sweet fragrance. The leaves are green with no maculations present.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia aethiopica.

Varietal denomination: ‘Diva Bianca’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia aethiopica and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Diva Bianca’.

‘Diva Bianca’ is a product of a planned breeding program and the new cultivar was selected in Santa Cruz, Calif. from the F2 population of the crossing of unpatented Zantedeschia seedling 7006-A (female parent) with unpatented Zantedeschia seedling 95104-44J (male parent). When compared to its female parent, the blooms of ‘Diva Bianca’ are more abundant and smoother with a greater spiral wrap. Further, the flower stems of ‘Diva Bianca’ are much slimmer, stronger, and lighter. ‘Diva Bianca’ exhibits better disease resistance to root pathogens than its female parent. When compared to its male parent, ‘Diva Bianca’ exhibits significantly larger and taller blooms and leaves.

The new variety was initially asexually reproduced through tissue culture propagation in Santa Cruz, Calif. Asexual reproductions of ‘Diva Bianca’ have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 4^(th) Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Diva Bianca’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. White colored spathes;     -   2. No leaf maculations; and     -   3. Sweet fragrance.

Table 1 provides a comparison of ‘Diva Bianca’ to similar Zantedeschia aethiopica varieties ‘A405’ (U.S. plant patent pending), ‘Innocence’ (unpatented), and ‘Avalanche’ (unpatented). Further, ‘Diva Bianca’ produces 25-50% more flower stems than ‘Innocence’.

TABLE 1 Comparison Differing Comparison Present variety variety trait(s) expression expression ‘A405’ Plant height 30-40 cm 110-150 cm ‘Innocence’ Forcing time 20-25 weeks 18-21 weeks Spathe color White Group White Group RHS 155B RHS 155C ‘Avalanche’ Leaf maculations Present None present

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Evergreen. -   Form: Upright and semi-spreading. -   Height of leaf canopy above the soil: 80-120 cm. -   Height of top of inflorescences above the soil: 100-140 cm. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber: 18-20 cm in diameter: 3-5. -   Lastingness of inflorescences on the plant: 18-28 days. -   Main use: Cut flower. -   Forcing time: 18-21 weeks. -   Disease/pest resistance: Very strong tolerance to Pythium root rot     and bacteria soft rot. -   Root color: White. -   Berries: None present. -   Fragrance: Sweet aroma present. -   Leaves:     -   -   Width.—20-25 cm.         -   Length.—35-45 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Moderately sagittate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A, with no             maculations present. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137C,             with no maculations present.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth (both surfaces).         -   Leaf venation.—None/indistinct.         -   Petiole.—Length: 45-90 cm. Diameter: 1.2-2.2 cm. Texture:             Smooth. Shape: Slim columnar Color: The base and upper             portion are Green Group RHS 137C. -   Spathe:     -   -   Length.—17-23 cm.         -   Width.—12-16 cm.         -   Height.—17-23 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Modestly sweet.         -   Shape.—Funnel, well-wrapped.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Base.—Continuous.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Throat spot.—Absent.         -   Color.—White Group RHS 155B (upper and lower surfaces). -   Spadix:     -   -   Length.—10-16 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5-0.9 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow Group RHS 13A to 13B.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright from base.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Location of female organs.—Upper portion of spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Lower portion of spadix.         -   Pistil number.—Numerous, more than 20.         -   Pollen color.—White Group RHS 155A to 155B. -   Peduncle color: Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Diva Bianca’ as herein described and illustrated. 